The New Normal

Hey, guys...

Last Monday, after being cooped up for two weeks straight, I woke up around 6:15am with full plans to get to the nearby grocery store by no later than 7.  I had ran out of ice-cream and needed to re-up because... priorities.

When I got to the store’s underground parking lot, I saw that the elevators to the main floor were blocked.  I followed the crudely printed signs that pointed to the stairs and proceeded up towards the street where I was met with a somewhat significant line of people at the entrance of the automated doors of the store.  I sighed then took my place at the back of the line.  Approximately six feet behind the last person at the back of the line.  Thankfully, the line looked a lot worse than it ended up being.  I didn’t count the exact amount of time, but sooner than I knew it, the whole lot of us were being ushered into the store one by one.

Inside, no crowd, but enough of a head count for so early in the morning.  Some donned face masks while others went bare.  I was part of the latter; however, I did take a produce bag and fashion it into a “glove”, so I could quickly navigate my cart to the aisles I needed and then quickly leave.

When I got home, I stripped down naked right at the front door and left my packages on the floor while I grabbed my bottle of rubbing alcohol from my bathroom as well as dish detergent.  I doused a paper towel with the concoction and proceeded to thoroughly wipe everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, down before putting it away.  Food, credit cards, keys... nothing went un-wiped.   When I was through with the wiping, I jumped in the shower and scrubbed.  After showering, I laundered everything I wore to the store, including the hat I wore to cover my hair.  Then and only then did I relax.

Two days ago, I fashioned a makeshift face mask out of an old scarf and two ponytail bands after seeing the quick and handy tutorial on Instagram.  Took me less than five minutes.  Very happy to have it.  Another piece of armor for the battle...

And now I’m just sitting here... all dolled up with nowhere to go.  But I’m so thankful that all my family and friends, including you guys, are here and accounted for.  So blessed to be here myself.  Hopeful that this tide will soon ebb.  Encouraged that it most certainly will.

Strange times we’re living in, huh?  But I guess this is our new normal.

Strange times indeed...